Piper PA-22-135 N3762A

Summary

On 17 November 2000 at about 20:18 local time, a Piper PA-22-135 registered N3762A was involved in an accident near Ontario, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 November 2000 at 20:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Ontario, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.0793, -117.0108

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-135

Registration

N3762A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Weiser

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01FA021

1 person died.

Overstress loading to the left wing lift strut resulting in the left wing folding upward during the initial climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the climb-out from takeoff at about 200 feet above ground level, the left wing just outboard of the lift strut wing attach points folded upward. The aircraft then went into a vertical descent with the wing section trailing and still attached by what one witness thought were the control cables. The aircraft continued the vertical descent to ground collision. During the descent the forward left wing lift strut separated. Sections of the left side forward and aft lift strut attach fittings and fork assemblies were examined by an NTSB metallurgist. The metallurgist reported that all fracture features and deformation were typical of overstress fractures under bending load. Historical maintenance documentation revealed that the pilot, a non-mechanic, had been doing extensive structural maintenance on the aircraft since the late 1970's, and then having a certified mechanic sign-off his work.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.